Simultaneosuly, the Chicago Tribune reported; “according to government data, yearly drug overdose deaths…. in the U.S….. surpassed 50,000, in 2015, the highest mark in over 15 years…. 50,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, just last year, the most ever.”

50,000 American deaths, in one year, caused by “opioid drug overdoses.”…. Worse yet, these statistics were caused by an industry, which according to “PharmeceuticalCommerce.com” will be worth 1.12 TRILLION DOLLARS, in 2022.

On top of that, this is an industry, which currently sits at the pinnacle of vast government spending……..

This is troubling for a variety of reasons. These are re-stated facts, but I have some strong opinions, regarding these issues.

First of all, how do these numbers effect other issues? Are drug overdoses, surpassing automobile deaths, as the number 1 cause of death in America? And how does prescription drug suicide, impact; universal health care, obesity, social security and government spending?

I’ve written prior articles on suicide statistics, in conjunction with food stamp and housing reforms, but this dilemma pin points the need for food and housing reforms to occur today.

There were 50,000 fatalities, solely due to opioid overdoses, just last year. That means out of 350 million Americans, 1/70000 people, died last year from suicidal opioid overdoses. This statistic indicates to me, the need for our entire country, to re-examine society, as a whole. This is because these statistics, I believe indicate massive depression within the US, as well as the need for our government to spend more cautiously, on prescription healthcare costs.

Regardless, what are the solutions? Surely some people have benefited from these types of medications? Is this rash of suicides…. caused by the drugs themselves? Or, is this an offshoot of social stress and anxiety, created by corporate America, in terms of honest Americans running themselves into the ground?

……

I ask….. What are the solutions? And personally, I believe the foremost solution is to rename the drugs themselves.

I believe the title(s), of the drugs themselves, “namely pain killers,” could be a big part of the problem. The term, “pain killer,” to me, seems more like a nefarious marketing ploy, then a medicinal title.

The title itself, is what bothers me the most. Who doesn’t want to stop pain? Surely, most of us do. In fact, I would go as far as to say, I think almost anyone could falsely believe, they could benefit from such a medication. The term itself, “pain killer,” to me, is overly inviting. So the foremost solution, that I have personally, would be to rename the drugs themselves. Furthermore, I’d like to see the drugs re-titled something more akin to their nature. For example, what if Oxycontin was called, “death pills?” What if Vicodin, was called, “severe nerve agents?” I believe those titles, would be more appropriate…. as opposed to labeling these medications, simply, “pain killers.”